With seven of the world’s most widely admired malt whisky distilleries on its shores, Islay is Scotland’s leading whisky island. In this exquisitely written book, award-winning drink writer Andrew Jefford traces the past vicissitudes and present achievements of each of these distilleries.

That, though, is just part of this fascinating and richly textured work. Jefford also tells Islay’s own story; he provides evocative descriptions of its landscapes, its wildlife and its weather; while the voices of those who live and work on the island, recorded by the author in more than fifty hours of interviews, resonate in each chapter.